Session 2006-2007 |
Commons Journal 263
Chronological Index
Page 364 2006-2007 Volume 263 [No. 94.] Monday 21st May 2007. The House met at half-past Two oclock. PRAYERS.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
The Lords agree without Amendment to the Amendment proposed by this House in lieu of one of their Amendments to the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill.
And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time; An Amendment was proposed to the Question to leave out from the word That to the end of the Question and add the words this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Further Education and Training Bill [Lords] because it will introduce yet another expensive reorganisation of the learning and skills councils, further entrenching the management of vocational training through a regional structure; it will grant the Learning and Skills Council draconian new powers to dismiss college governors, principals and senior managers; and despite the recommendations of the Leitch Review of Skills it fails to address the UKs relatively poor performance in intermediate level vocational skills, the growing problem of young people not in education, employment or training, the declining numbers of learners in apprenticeships at all levels, and profound doubts about the timetable for the introduction of the new 1419 specialised Diplomas, instead thereof.(Mr David Willetts.) And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Angela Watkinson, Michael Fabricant: 137. Tellers for the Noes, Huw Irranca-Davies, Jonathan Shaw: 296. So the Question was negatived. And the Main Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Amendment on second or third reading):It was agreed to.
Committal 1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee. Proceedings in Public Bill Committee 2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 21st June 2007. 3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets. Consideration and Third Reading 4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced. Page 365 Monday 21st May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top 5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day. 6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading. Other proceedings 7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of any message from the Lords) may be programmed(Mr Alan Campbell):It was agreed to.
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Further Education and Training Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided(Mr Alan Campbell):It was agreed to.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty minutes to Eleven oclock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.40 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Paper subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II General Committees
Page 366 Monday 21st May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 333-vi]; and (2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Barry Sheerman].
(2) Human Rights Policy: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 556-i] [Mr Andrew Dismore].
[No. 95.] Tuesday 22nd May 2007. The House met at half-past Two oclock. PRAYERS.
Bill to be read the third time.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
International Tribunals (Sierra Leone) Bill [Lords],The Lords have passed a Bill to confer power to make provision in relation to the Special Court for Sierra Leone corresponding to that made in relation to the International Criminal Court by sections 42 to 48 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House. The Lords have agreed to the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill, with an Amendment, to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Lords insist on their Amendments to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill to which this House has disagreed and they disagree to the Amendment proposed by this House in lieu, for which they assign their Reason.
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the International Tribunals (Sierra Leone) Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 110EN].
Page 367 Tuesday 22nd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Lords Amendment to the Digital Switchover Bill be printed [Bill 112EN].
Another Clause (NC1) (Orders under Part 1 of Local Government Act 2000: Wales)(Angela E. Smith)brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC4) (Requests for single-member electoral areas)(Angela E. Smith)brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Other Clauses (NC5) (Duty of local authority to provide Boundary Committee with information), (NC6) (Consequential amendments), (NC22) (Entities controlled etc. by local authorities), (NC23) (Trusts), (NC24) (Further provision about orders), (NC25) (Exemptions from orders), (NC26) (Definition of certain terms for purposes of other enactments: England), (NC27) (Definition of certain terms for purposes of other enactments: Wales), (NC28) (Consequential amendments), (NC36) (Schemes for elections), (NC37) (Resolution for whole-council elections), (NC38) (Resolution for whole-council elections: requirements), (NC39) (Resolution for elections by halves), (NC40) (Resolution for elections by halves: requirements), (NC41) (Resolution for elections by thirds), (NC42) (Resolution for elections by thirds: requirements), (NC43) (Publicity for resolution), (NC44) (Notice to Electoral Commission), (NC45) (Electoral Commission to consider whether electoral review is necessary), (NC46) (Electoral Commission to make order for new electoral scheme), (NC47) (Order for elections by halves: years in which elections are to be held), (NC48) (Order for elections by halves: councillors to be elected at ordinary elections), (NC49) (Order for elections by thirds: years in which elections are to be held), (NC50) (Order for elections by thirds: councillors to be elected at ordinary elections), (NC51) (Order for elections by halves or elections by thirds: transitional provision), (NC52) (Power of Electoral Commission to make incidental etc. provision), (NC53) (Position if Electoral Commission acts under existing powers), (NC54) (Publicity for order by Electoral Commission) and (NC55) (Power of council to alter years of ordinary elections of parish councillors)(Mr Phil Woolas)brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC56) (Terms of reference of review)(Angela E. Smith) brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Other Clauses (NC57) (Councils power to undertake review), (NC58) (No review being undertaken: duty to respond to petition), (NC59) (Review being undertaken: duty to respond to petition), (NC60) (Power to respond to petition) and (NC62) (Electoral Commission and Boundary Committee: reviews and recommendations)(Mr Dave Watts)brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC34) (Executive arrangements: move to alternative arrangements)(Alistair Burt)brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Evennett, Mr Mark Lancaster: 129. Tellers for the Noes, Liz Blackman, Tony Cunningham: 305. Another Clause (NC64) (Abolition of Standards Board for England, repeal of provisions relating to investigations etc. (Wales) and abolition of Adjudication Panels etc.)(Philip Davies)brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. And it being Nine oclock, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [17th May]. Page 368 Tuesday 22nd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Evennett, Mr Mark Lancaster: 175. Tellers for the Noes, Tony Cunningham, Liz Blackman: 257. The Deputy Speaker then put the Questions on the remaining Amendments and the new Schedules moved by a Minister of the Crown. Other Amendments (Nos. 196 to 209, 258, 211, 212, 89, 12, 213 to 217, 13 to 18, 218, 90, 228 to 233, 91, 234 to 242, 19, 243 to 247, 61 to 73, 111 to 113, 219, 114, 115, 220, 221, 116, 55, 117 to 121, 222 to 224, 56, 122 and 225) made to the Bill. Schedules (NS1) (Elections: consequential amendments), (NS2) (The Commission for Local Administration in England: minor and consequential amendments) and (NS3) (Consequential amendments relating to entities controlled etc. by local authorities)(Mr Michael Foster)brought up, read the first time and added to the Bill. Other Amendments (Nos. 57, 226, 74, 227, 58, 124, 59, 60, 125 to 130) made to the Bill. A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read the third time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Steve McCabe, Jonathan Shaw: 260. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mark Lancaster, Mr David Evennett: 180. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes to Eleven oclock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.33 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Other Papers:
Page 369 Tuesday 22nd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top
(2) Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions (Pay) Order 2007, dated 2nd May 2007 [by Act] [Ms Harriet Harman].
Papers withdrawn:
APPENDIX II General Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) Cost of military operations: Spring Supplementary Estimate 200607: Government Response to the Tenth Report of the Committee, Session 200607: Twelfth Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 558]; (3) Strategic Lift: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 462-ii]; (4) Medical Care for the Armed Forces: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published; (5) UK Defence: commitments and resources: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published; and (6) UK operations in Afghanistan: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr James Arbuthnot].
Page 370 Tuesday 22nd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top (2) Police Funding Allocations: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 553-i] [Mr John Denham].
(i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration; to be printed [No. 251-viii]; and (ii) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published; and (2) Third Sector Commissioning: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Tony Wright].
(2) Trade with Brazil and Mercosur: Seventh Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 208] [Mr Peter Luff].
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 281-x]; and (2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Hywel Francis]. [No. 95; WH, No. 56] Tuesday 22nd May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Nine oclock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1.53 p.m. [No. 96.] Wednesday 23rd May 2007. The House met at half-past Eleven oclock. PRAYERS.
Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered on Friday 15th June; and to be printed [Bill 115]. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Page 371 Wednesday 23rd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top
Independent Inquiry into the Conduct of the Scottish Elections,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House considers the rejection of 146,097 votes in the constituency and regional elections to the Scottish Parliament, the equivalent of over 1,000,000 in a UK general election, to be totally unacceptable and an affront to democracy; notes that the number of rejected ballots exceeds the winning majority in several constituencies and that different formats of the regional ballot paper were used in different parts of Scotland; further notes that serious concerns have been raised about the issuing of postal ballots for the elections and the electronic equipment and processes used for counting votes; further notes that repeated advice not to hold the local government elections under the newly introduced single transferable vote system on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections was ignored by the Scotland Office and the then Scottish Executive; calls upon the Secretary of State for Scotland to accept responsibility for the failures in the conduct of the Scottish Parliament elections and to apologise to the people of Scotland; further notes that the Electoral Commission is to carry out an inquiry, but considers that such an inquiry should be independent of the Commission, which had a significant role in the conduct of the elections, if public confidence in the electoral process in Scotland is to be restored; and accordingly further calls upon the Government, working in conjunction with the Scottish Executive, to instigate such an inquiry(David Mundell); An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word House to the end of the Question and add the words notes that a statutory review of the Scottish Parliament elections is already underway conducted by the Electoral Commission as required by Parliament; further notes that, at the prior request of the then Scottish Executive, this review will also cover the Scottish local government elections; welcomes the appointment of an international authority on the management and organisation of elections, Mr Ron Gould, the former Assistant Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, to lead the review; further notes that his terms of reference include examining the role of the Electoral Commission in the preparation of the elections, as well as matters relating to postal ballot delays, the high number of rejected ballots, combining Scottish local government and Scottish parliamentary elections, and the electronic counting process; and believes that this statutory review which is now in progress should complete its report in order to inform decisions in relation to any further steps which may be necessary or appropriate, instead thereof.(Mr Secretary Alexander.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Andrew Rosindell, Mr Robert Goodwill: 160. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Ian Cawsey: 329. So the Question was negatived. And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments):It was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House notes that a statutory review of the Scottish Parliament elections is already underway conducted by the Electoral Commission as required by Parliament; further notes that, at the prior request of the then Scottish Executive, this review will also cover the Scottish local government elections; welcomes the appointment of an international authority on the management and organisation of elections, Mr Ron Gould, the former Assistant Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, to lead the review; further notes that his terms of reference include examining the role of the Electoral Commission in the preparation of the elections, as well as matters relating to postal ballot delays, the high number of rejected ballots, combining Scottish local government and Scottish parliamentary elections, and the electronic counting process; and believes that this statutory review which is now in progress should complete its report in order to inform decisions in relation to any further steps which may be necessary or appropriate. Page 372 Wednesday 23rd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Salary of the Secretary of State for Health,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the salary of the Secretary of State for Health should be reduced by £1,000(Mr Andrew Lansley); An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word That to the end of the Question and add the words this House believes that there is no need to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Health at a time when patient satisfaction is increasing, with nine out of ten in-patients saying their care has been good, very good or excellent, waiting times are at their lowest since records began, an extra 200,000 lives have been saved from heart disease and cancer since 1996 and investment in the NHS is being trebled by 2008, instead thereof.(Ms Secretary Hewitt.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Robert Goodwill, Mr Crispin Blunt: 219. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Michael Foster, Tony Cunningham: 282. So the Question was negatived. And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Tony Cunningham, Mr Michael Foster: 269. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Robert Goodwill, Mr Crispin Blunt: 207. So the Question was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House believes that there is no need to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Health at a time when patient satisfaction is increasing, with nine out of ten in-patients saying their care has been good, very good or excellent, waiting times are at their lowest since records began, an extra 200,000 lives have been saved from heart disease and cancer since 1996 and investment in the NHS is being trebled by 2008.
(1) International Fund for Animal Welfare for legislation to ban the trade in all harp and hooded seal products in the UK; and (2) residents of Orchard Park Housing Estate, Kingston upon Hull for the redevelopment of the Orchard Park Shopping Centre were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till thirteen minutes to Eight oclock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 7.47 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Page 373 Wednesday 23rd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Goods Infringing the Olympics and Paralympics Association Rights (Customs) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1508), dated 22nd May 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Dawn Primarolo].
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II General Committees
(1) The Speaker has appointed Mr Mike Weir Chairman of the Second Reading Committee on the Bill; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Bob Ainsworth, Mr Simon Burns, Mr Brian H. Donohoe, Mr Frank Doran, Mr Neil Gerrard, Nick Harvey, Simon Hughes, Helen Jones, Mr Kevan Jones, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Greg Knight, David Lepper, Andrew Mackinlay, Mr Andrew Robathan, Paddy Tipping, Mr Andrew Tyrie and Mr Shailesh Vara.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Orders to the First Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Kevin Brennan, Mr David Burrowes, Dr Vincent Cable, Mr Douglas Carswell, Mr Tom Clarke, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), Mr David Evennett, Mark Fisher, Mr Mark Francois, Julia Goldsworthy, Glenda Jackson, Anne Moffat, Mr Elliot Morley, Dawn Primarolo, Mr Andy Reed, Dr Gavin Strang and Mr Michael Wills.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Martyn Jones Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-one Members to serve on the Committee: John Battle, Rosie Cooper, Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas, Mr Stephen Dorrell, Mrs Nadine Dorries, Mark Durkan, Maria Eagle, Bill Etherington, Mr Michael Foster (Worcester), Mr Roger Godsiff, Mr David Hamilton, Mr Greg Hands, Mr Stewart Jackson, Mr Mark Lancaster, Mr Alan Reid, Mr Laurence Robertson, Mr Marsha Singh, Geraldine Smith, Mr Robert N. Wareing, Sammy Wilson and Derek Wyatt. Page 374 Wednesday 23rd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top European Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 561-i]; and (2) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Barry Sheerman].
(2) Correspondence with Defra: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Michael Jack].
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 496-ii]; and (2) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Sir John Stanley].
(2) Third Report from the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments; to be printed [No. 83-iii] [David Maclean].
(2) Open SkiesThe Draft EUUS Air Transport Agreement: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 395] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody]. [No. 96; WH, No. 57] Wednesday 23rd May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Nine oclock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 5.11 p.m. Page 375 Wednesday 23rd May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top [No. 97.] Thursday 24th May 2007. The House met at half-past Ten oclock. PRAYERS.
Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007.
The Motion was, with the leave of the House, withdrawn.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till two minutes to Six oclock, adjourned till Monday 4th June, pursuant to Order [16th May]. [Adjourned at 5.58 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
(1) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Petition [9th May] from the City of Derby against the proposal by Her Majestys Revenue and Customs to close its two offices in Derby; and (2) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the Petition [27th March] from the constituents of South West Bedfordshire and other users of Britains waterways against reductions in the British Waterways grant [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House]. Page 376 Thursday 24th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Papers withdrawn:
APPENDIX II General Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
[No. 97; WH, No. 58] Thursday 24th May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Two oclock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 5th June. [Adjourned at 5.16 p.m.
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